How safe are social media sites for private, confidential information?

How many social media platforms do you really need to know and use?

Seven Steps to Starting To Do Social Media the Right Way

STEP ONE: Baby Steps

Too often people attend a social media presentation and begin getting excited, but end up intimidated by How Much there is out there. The key here is to recognize the fact that you must go slowly, i.e., master one site/strategy/tool at a time. Once you have learned that one, the rest will be easier. Be happy with every minor rewarding experience whether it is simply posting or a mention or a real interaction.

STEP TWO: Don’t Expect Immediate Results

I’ll never forget one of my first clients who had just opened a Twitter account and wanted to know if she could expect five new clients in two weeks. NOT! Social Media strategies are long term, i.e. building relationships with trust, consistency, sincerity, and patience.

STEP THREE: Be Deliberate

Imagine that someone ONLY sees One Post or Update or Comment. What is the impression you want to leave with him or her? Think about that every time you write on the Global Whiteboard. What you post is there forever.

STEP FOUR: Listen

My university students regularly hear my 3 Rules to Business Success: (1) Listen Carefully; (2) Read Carefully; and (3) Follow ALL Directions. Without that critical first rule, you will miss vital information to plan future strategies. Communication is not a solo activity. Write a diary for that. With social media you want to listen to what people want and think. Then give them what they want. Remember that marketing, especially social marketing is not about you. It is about people you want to do business with, so find out how you can help. Everyone really does want to be heard.

STEP FIVE: Collaborate

This is one of the beauties of the Internet and its communication channels –social media: i.e., the ease of finding people to help answer questions, solve problems, supply materials, and team up with you on projects. Collaboration follows naturally from engaging online.

STEP SIX: Play

Too often forgotten, but social media should be fun. Social media play follows Margaret Mead’s suggestion from her work with the Samoans, i.e. Work should be Play, and then Play is Work.

STEP SEVEN: Be the GO-TO Source for Information

Here is your ultimate direction: Who you are online. This reminds me of a favorite saying: “We do not go out looking to find ourselves. Rather, we create ourselves.” Social Media provides you the opportunity to establish a yourself as a powerful influencer in your area of expertise. Take your passion and turn it into an opportunity for helping the world. Social media has that reach.

Love it, Ann. Yes, the best way to become a Key Influencer online is to be unique — the same as achieving success on most other fronts as well. 🙂

Mar 1, 201112:06 pm

#4 Warrenetta Lane :

You write so clearly and succinctly. Good insights, especially about having fun..

Mar 11, 20111:53 pm

#5 Anthony Thompson :

I think these are good rules to follow. The one thing I appreciated was the “Don’t expect results fast” step. Too many people think as soon as they join these networks it’s going to be all fun and networking. No, you need to put effort into your social networks and the more you put in the more you will get out of it.

Excellent list Shari and I think you covered it. I too like “Step Two: Don’t Expect Immediate Results”. It doesn’t happen overnight and don’t forget Step 6! – If you’re not having some fun along the way, I mean what’s point?!

Hi Shari, I had a really hard time with No. 1, purchasing lots of products and not taking the time to master one strategy at a time. It takes a lot of mental strength to focus on something and act according to the plan you’ve chose. Great article, one of the best social media related posts I’ve seen lately! Thanks, George

Wow, I am extremely impressed with your blog! I will be using it as an educational resource. I can tell you really know your stuff, and have put years of heart and soul into what you do Shari. It’s so true that people need to lower their expectations and remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint! The rewards are so great as long as we develop that unconditional giving, sharing attitude, which I can see you have done an A++ job of here.

Great info for breaking down Social Media (SM) into this awesome seven steps as a guidline. Without a concept being active in SM much time can be spent the wrong way, especially when someone wants to run a business with that foundation.

Listening is a great skill to develop, although it sounds strange, but to listen in what people talk about and what they actually want to achieve or express with their talking needs focus. That means you need to rest your own thoughts and fully follow what someone says and even have it in mind what is talked about (and if needed even to convert into pictures in your mind). This skill, as you highlighted, is the starting of every conversation… Thank you again for pointing us to these rules!

Great post, I particularly like point 7 “be the go-to source for information.” I’m fairly new to the world of social media, so when I come across blogs like yours I listen up. Will be subscribing to get all your great tips.